Habitat for Humanity receives land donation from Stellarton town council

Danny MacGillivray in front of the vacant 98 poplar street which was recently donated by Stellarton Town council to the Pictou chapter of Habitat for Humanity. - Brendan Ahern

The empty lot at 98 Poplar Street in Stellarton will soon be turned into a home for a young family.

Stellarton Town council unanimously voted to donate the land to Pictou County Habitat for Humanity at last week’s town council meeting.

The Habitat for Humanity projects brings volunteers together to build houses for people who might not be able to afford a traditional mortgage from a bank. Instead they are given a mortgage through Habitat that costs about 30 per cent of their gross income.

“We’re looking for a young working family with children,” said Stellarton Mayor Danny MacGillivray, who started the Habitat For Humanity chapter in Pictou County. “Someone who can’t afford a traditional mortgage, but can afford to pay toward home ownership and takes pride in home ownership.”

“We’re hoping that by providing that opportunity It’s a hand-up, not a hand-out.”

The local chapter has a committee which decides on who will get the plot of land at 98 poplar street.

Then the work begins.

Successful applicants will also be required to put in 500 hours of volunteer work in the community or on the build of the house.

MacGillivray says that the building will be starting in 2019.

“One of the goals originally of the chapter is to offer up an opportunity to keep people local instead of having to move away, especially young families,” she said. “So, this is just a small way of trying to do that.”